Hyung-koo Rhee

MooPoong (Gye Young Jeong) increases HDL-cholesterol but decreases LDL cholesterol and body-weight

MooPoong (MP, Gye Young Jeong), a Korean traditional wine, has been used as a prevention and treatment agent of blood circulatory trouble. To evaluate such an effect of MP, we analyzed whether the plasma levels of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and body weight change after rats were fed on high fat diet with MP for 8 weeks. Plasma LDL cholesterol level decreased by 5.6% in 0.128% MP treated group and by 11.1% in 0.640% MP treated group. However, HDL cholesterol was increased by 6.7% in 0.128% MP diet group and 33.3% in 0.640% MP diet group. In addition, there was a significant weight loss in the MP treated group compared with the high‐fat diet group (P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that MP may contain compounds with actions which can treat blood circulatory trouble as well as overweight.

Processed Xanthii fructus increases cell viability of mast cell line, RBL-2H3

The effect of aqueous extract of processed Xanthii fructus (PXF) on cell viability and histamine release from mast cell has been investigated. PXF showed higher cell viability than unprocessed Xanthii fructus (XF) at the concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/ml. Aqueous extract of PXF and unprocessed XF inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis in mouse. Both PXF and unprocessed XF dose-dependently inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80 to the similar extent at 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/ml. Our studies provide evidence that processing of XF may be beneficial to reduce cytotoxicity in high concentration (at 5 and 10 mg/ml) but does not affect on anti-allergic activity.